Here is a break down of what children learn through play:
Social Development
When you play with children, it builds attachment. Playing with others teaches your child cooperation, sharing, empathy and helping.
Emotional Development
Expressing him/herself through play boots your child's feeling of self-worth. When your child pretends it helps him/her understand and learn to control his/her feelings.
Physical Development
Exploring with their bodies helps children strengthen their large and small muscles. As they repeat actions, children gain hand-eye coordination and other skills that prepare them for later learning.
Intellectual (Cognitive)
Pretend play helps a child make sense of her everyday experiences. Play enhances a child's persistence, attention span, memory and ability to focus-all skills that are important for success in school.
Language Development
The more practice he/she has to make sounds-even silly ones- the better a child's tongue and mouth can coordinate to say words. When a child cooperates with you or with another playmate, your child uses words to tell you his/her ideas.
What do we do to help?
Create places where children can play.
Play with them
Let children be children
Give them toys that help learn and let them choose what to play.
When you play with children, it builds attachment. Playing with others teaches your child cooperation, sharing, empathy and helping.
Emotional Development
Expressing him/herself through play boots your child's feeling of self-worth. When your child pretends it helps him/her understand and learn to control his/her feelings.
Physical Development
Exploring with their bodies helps children strengthen their large and small muscles. As they repeat actions, children gain hand-eye coordination and other skills that prepare them for later learning.
Intellectual (Cognitive)
Pretend play helps a child make sense of her everyday experiences. Play enhances a child's persistence, attention span, memory and ability to focus-all skills that are important for success in school.
Language Development
The more practice he/she has to make sounds-even silly ones- the better a child's tongue and mouth can coordinate to say words. When a child cooperates with you or with another playmate, your child uses words to tell you his/her ideas.
What do we do to help?
Create places where children can play.
Play with them
Let children be children
Give them toys that help learn and let them choose what to play.